Boeing Offers AAS Competitor to Middle East

By By Douglas Nelms | December 8, 2011

Attack

Boeing is promoting its AH-6i to meet reconnaissance/attack helicopter requirements for military forces in the Middle East. The AH-6i is the aircraft Boeing is entering in the U.S. Army’s Armed Aerial Scout (AAS) competition. Mike Burke, director of attack helicopters business development for Boeing, said that the AH-6i currently meets all the requirements that are expected to be announced for the U.S. Army’s AAS program, including the ability to hover out of ground effect at 6,000 ft at 95 degrees F, or “6K/95.”

Boeing demonstrated the AH-6i at the Dubai Air Show in late November. The manufacturer has conducted demonstrations, including live firing, for the UAE, Jordan “and a couple of others,” Burke said. The first international order for the AH-6i is expected soon, with Jordan and Saudi Arabia as the possible customer. Boeing had been expecting an order from Iraq, but that went to Bell’s IA407. Burke said that there are roughly 2,000 helicopters in the attack/reconnaissance class that need to be replaced in the Middle East, and the AH-6i would fit that requirement easily. More: AH-6 Meets Projected U.S. Army AAS Requirements